Gold and ore separator



No. 609,540. Patented Aug. 23, I898.

, .W. GRAY. GOLD AND ORE SE PABATOR. (Application filed Aug. 19, 1897.)

oooooooo No. 609,540. Patented Aug. 23,1398,

I w. GRAY.

7 GOLD AND ORE SEPARATOR.

(Application filad'Aug. 19, 1897.

(No Mom) 2 Sheets-$heet 2.

WILLIAM enArgor mNooLN, NEBRASKA.

GOLD AND ORE SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609, 540, dated August 23, 1898. Application filed August 19, 1897. :Serial No. 648,845. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM GRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln,

in the county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gold and Ore Separators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is designed for the separation of free gold from the pulverized sand, gravel, or other material with which it may be mixed in a dry condition and for the concentration of ores. It is specially adapted for placermining, and in the form in which I have shown the machine it is suitable for prospecting, the apparatus being capable of easy transportation and of being worked by hand. It is to be used also in connection with stamp-mills, concentrating mills, and smelters, for the purpose of reducing ores of less grade to high grade. The apparatus belongs'to that class of machines in which the valuable material is separated from the worthless ingredients with which it is mixed by means of an air-blast acting vertically upon a mass of the material falling in a confined space through the ascending blast.

Vhile my invention is specially designed for portable use, as above explained, it is intended to be used in larger and stationary machines with the same effect.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the concentrator. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, taken from front to rear. Fig. 3 shows in perspective a modification of a part of the machine shown inFig. 2. Fig. 4 shows a cross-section of the flue. Fig. 5 is a detail view. Fig. 6 is a section of the flue of Fig. 3.

The hopper of the concentrator is shown at Q, Figs. 1 and 2. It is supported in the upper part of a suitable frame and discharges through an opening at g, which is provided with a sliding gate having a handle 1. Through this gate it discharges into a vertical flue B. This flue is vertically arranged in the rear of the frame and has gradually-enlarged curved connection, as shown at R, with the case of an ordinary fan-blower. It is essential for the best operation of the machine that this passage from the fan throughout the flue should be a clear unobstructed passage with continuouswall and without a break in order that the blast may be'even and continuous in have also found it essential to the best effect to have the flue flattened, with the breadth or transverse diameter very much greater than the lateral diameter or depth from front to rear. In the first'place the pulverized material falls from the bottom of the hopper over the edge of the discharge-opening in a sheet, and it should be met by a blast corresponding in shape. This insures the most even application of the blast to the falling material. Further, the flattened flue compresses the current and, as I have found, neutralizes, when the flue is vertical, the friction of the resistance of the walls, or at least so mixes the current as to make it practically of the same force through the cross-section of the flue at any point. I use the proportions substantially as shown in the drawings. The upper part of the flue is rounded, as shown at r, so that the discharge-openin g faces to the rear,as shown at 2.

The flue is. removable and connected at its lower. end with the section formed on the dis charge by means of a slip-joint and at its upper end is held to the frame by means of hasps. A connection is formed on the flue, as shown at 3 3, to form a slip-joint with the dischargespout of the hopper. Under some circumstances this flue may be made gradually en larged at the upper end, as shown in Fig. 5, this construction allowing a true even expansion of the blast at the upper part and a consequent diminution of its force, so that lighter particles of the valuable material may have an'opportunity to fall and acquire a momentum to carry them through the narrower parts below. The curved bottom of the chute is perforated, as shown at s, to allow the heavy material to fall, either directly or by sliding along, into the'treasure-box S, which is removable. .In the mouth of the passage which leads to the flue and close to the circumference of the fan-case is hinged an eveningflap T, which is hinged at its upper edge at a point i near the periphery and at an elevation approximately above the main volume of the blast, and this flap when hanging down in its normal position is suspended freely and in that part of the passage through which the blast is directly forced. It will be observed" in the drawings that when thus hanging down its lower edge is nearest to the bottom of the passage, which is on a continuous curve from the tangential continuation of the periphery of the case. It will be also observed that as the flap swings to the left toward the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 the passage is opened more and more. The limit of movement of this valve or float may be set by pins; but it will normally assume a position depending upon the force of the current and so direct and evenly spread the current to the rear that it will evenly ascend into the lower part of the flue.

The flap is suspended near the fan, extends from side to side, and its upper edge is located on or near the line where the direct ac tion of the wings of the fan practically ceases to operate on the current. In order that the evening-flap may act also to indicate the force of the blasts, I provide an outside indicator in connection with it.

The flap is fixed to a pivotal rod which has its bearings in the walls of the passage and at one end extends outside of the wall and is provided with a bent arm u, as shown in Fig. 3. An adjustable weight 5 is set on this arm more certainly to bring the valve into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4, and so offer more resistance, as may be desired, to the passage of the air. The valve and the indicator-arm u will show by increased deflection from the perpendicular the amount of force in the blast. In operating the machine the blast may be varied to ascertain the best effect, and the position of the valve may be noted, and, if desired, it may be fixed for a given size of the material and varied when another size is put through the apparatus. The shaft of the fan is journaled upon the handle-bars W, the handles on the end of which afford means for transportation, these being fixed to the frame of the machine.

The fan is driven by belt and drive-wheel, as shown in Fig. 3, the wheel being provided with a handle or operated in any manner. I have shown in Fig. 4 a cross-section of the flue. I prefer that the ends be rounded for more even effect upon the blast of the air. It will be understood that the fan and passage R are of the same Width as the flue, so as to send an even blast of full size into the flue, and this being properly regulated carries off the lighter and less valuable materials only and discharges them at the discharge-opening 2, while the heavy and more valuable particles fall. It will also be observed that the air-forcing device is placed aside from the vertical flue,while the treasurebox is directly below it, so that the blast does not interfere with the action of gravity upon heavier particles. These fall either directly through the holes in the case or, if they strike a solid part, slide down until they find an opening, through which they pass into the box.

I claim- I 1. A portable air-concentrator, comprising a flattened vertical flue, having a clear unobstructed passage, a hopper discharging through an opening into the upper part of said flue, a fan of substantially the same width as the flue, acurved passage of the same width as the flue, leading from the fan to the flue and an evening-flap freely suspended at its upper edge in said passage, near the fan, and extending from side to side of the passage, substantially as described.

2. A portable air-concentrator comprising a flattened vertical flue, having a clear unobstructed passage, a hopper discharging through an opening of the same width as the flue, into the upper part thereof, afan of substantially the same width as the flue, a curved passage also of the same width, leading from the fan to the flue, and an evening-flap freely suspended at its upper edge in said passage near the fan and extending from side to side of the passage and a flaring discharge-opening at the upper end of the vertical flue, substantially as described.

3. In a portable air-concentrator and in combination and arrangement, as shown, a vertical flattened flue having a clear unobstructed passage, and connected by a curved passage with a fan all of the same width as the flue, an evening-flap freely suspended near the upper edge in said passage, the lower wall of said curved passage being at the bottom of the flue and being perforated, and a box beneath the perforations.

4. In a portable air-concentrator and in combination and arrangement as shown, a vertical flue connected to a fan by a curved passage, all of substantially the same width, an evening and indicating flap freely suspended byits upper edge across the passage from side to side thereof, and an indicator-arm on the outside of the passage and on the end of the axis of said flap.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM GRAY.

Witnesses:

HENRY E. OooPER, O. S. MIDDLETON. 

